Style for use of Member of Band Relationship

If a BandMember is usually known by a particular PerformanceName, use this to link them to the band instead of their LegalName. The MemberOfBandRelationshipType is used to make the link.

• This is an OfficialStyleGuideline.

Example

For the purposes of AdvancedRelationships linking:

• Bono is a member of U2

  Suggs is a member of Madness

  Björk is a member of The Sugarcubes

Rationale

Artists are usually credited by their PerformanceNames rather than their LegalNames. In fact, the real names of some very well known band members are quite obscure. If an artist's LegalName were used to link them to the band instead of their PerformanceName, this would create confusion, and likely people would try and link the PerformanceName anyway.

Note that the PerformanceName that should be used is the one that they usually performed under whilst in the band.

Discussion

This was discussed & agreed upon in April 2005. There was however no firm ruling, so it was briefly discussed by the StyleCouncil & agreed upon in May 2005.

What happens when someone performs under several different names during the course of their membership? For example, Tim Commerford of Rage Against the Machine is credited as "Timmy C." on their self-titled album, but "Y.tim.K." on "The Battle of Los Angeles". My suggestion would be that this case should be handled by just choosing something common-sense, like the most widely-known name, or in this case just using the legal name is fine, since it's fairly clear what the alias is referring to. --MatthewExon

• Seems reasonable to me - I think the common sense approach is the right one. --JohnCarter

CategoryStyle Author: JohnCarter